# NEXUS@SHARP to Explore Dark Matter in Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies

- Published: 2026-11-06 21:27 UTC
- Section: Sky & Space › Astronomy
- Tags: Extremely Large Telescope, dark matter, ultra-diffuse galaxies, NEXUS@SHARP, globular clusters
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-54e55245783b366d774b0894_nexus_sharp_to/

**The Extremely Large Telescope's NEXUS@SHARP will investigate dark matter in ultra-diffuse galaxies, enhancing our understanding of cosmic structures.**

![NEXUS@SHARP to Explore Dark Matter in Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/9092998013f3fd53.jpg)
*Credit for the Hubble images: NASA, ESA, C. Heymans (University of British Columbia, Vanco, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain*

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is set to achieve its first light in March 2029, with one of its scientific goals being the study of dark matter. The ELT will utilize an instrument called NEXUS@SHARP, which is designed to probe fundamental aspects of the Universe, particularly the Lambda Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) model. This model, which is the standard cosmological model, faces challenges regarding the nature of dark matter, with some questioning its existence altogether. 

NEXUS@SHARP, a Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS), aims to address these challenges by examining globular clusters (GCs) around ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs). UDGs are intriguing as they are comparable in size to the Milky Way but contain significantly fewer stars, leading to questions about their formation and dark matter content. The research published in New Astronomy highlights how NEXUS@SHARP can enhance our understanding of these galaxies by providing deeper spectroscopic observations. 

The study, led by Marco Mirabile from INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo and Gran Sasso Science Institute, emphasizes that UDGs challenge current galaxy formation models within the ΛCDM framework. The authors note that GCs serve as excellent tracers for probing the halos of these faint systems, but current spectroscopic facilities struggle to fully characterize GC populations beyond the local neighborhood. NEXUS@SHARP is expected to overcome these limitations by combining high spatial resolution with efficient multiplexing, allowing for the observation of multiple GCs simultaneously. 

The research indicates that NEXUS@SHARP will enable precise measurements of radial velocities and stellar populations, which are crucial for distinguishing between competing UDG formation scenarios. One scenario posits that UDGs are failed massive galaxies, while another suggests they are low-mass galaxies that have expanded over time. By examining the globular clusters around UDGs, NEXUS@SHARP will provide insights into their formation and the nature of dark matter.

## Sources

1. [universetoday.com](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-elt-can-probe-ultra-diffuse-galaxies-and-their-dark-matter-mysteries)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-54e55245783b366d774b0894_nexus_sharp_to/